[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1457-S1458]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      SENATE RESOLUTION 69--CONDEMNING TERRORIST ATTACKS IN ISRAEL

  Mr. DOLE (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Helms, Mr. Pell, Mr. D'Amato, 
Mr. Packwood, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Robb, Mr. Ford, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
Wellstone, Mr. Specter, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. 
Brown) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                               S. Res. 69

       Whereas on January 22, 1995 a brutal and cowardly terrorist 
     attack near Netanya, Israel killed 19 Israelis and wounded 
     dozens more;
       Whereas the terrorist group ``Islamic Jihad'' claimed 
     credit for the January 22, 1955 attack in a statement issued 
     in Damascus, Syria;
       Whereas on December 25, 1994, a ``Hamas'' terrorist attack 
     in Jerusalem wounded 13 civilians, including 1 American 
     citizen;
       Whereas on October 19, 1994, a Hamas terrorist attack in 
     Tel Aviv killed 22 Israelis and wounded 48 more;
       Whereas 110 Israeli citizens have been killed and hundreds 
     more have been wounded in terrorist attacks since the 
     Declaration of Principles was signed on September 13, 1993;
       Whereas the Declaration of Principles obligates the 
     Palestinian Authority to publicly condemn terrorist attacks, 
     and to bring to justice perpetrators of such acts in 
     territories under their control;
       Whereas no perpetrators of these terrorist attacks have 
     been brought to justice for their acts of violence by the 
     Palestinian Authority;
       Whereas the governments of Syria and Iran continue to 
     provide safe haven and support for terrorist groups, 
     including Islamic Jihad and Hamas, among others;
       Whereas continued acts of terrorism threaten the peace 
     process in the Middle East;
       Therefore, be it resolved by the Senate that--
       (1) The terrorist attacks in Israel are condemned in the 
     strongest possible terms;
       (2) Condolences are extended to the families of all those 
     killed, and hopes are expressed for the rapid and complete 
     recovery of all wounded in the January 22, 1995 attack;
       (3) Chairman Arafat should, consistent with the obligations 
     of the Declaration of Principles, publicly and forcefully 
     condemn acts of terror against Israelis, take immediate steps 
     to bring to justice those responsible for such acts, and 
     implement steps to prevent future acts of terrorism in all 
     territory under his control;
       (4) President Assad should immediately end all support for 
     terrorist groups, including safe haven, material and 
     financial support, in all territory under his control;
       (5) The administration should undertake strong efforts to 
     end the safe haven, training, and financial and other support 
     granted terrorists by Iran, Syria and other states.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I rise in support of this resolution 
condemning the brutal terrorist attack in Israel. Any peace process 
must show benefits if it is to work. Unfortunately, average Israelis 
are seeing increased terrorism and increased insecurity as extremists 
seek to use violence to derail peace. If the Israeli population 
concludes that the peace process is not in their interest, the process 
will halt.
  Since September 13, 1993, when the Declaration of Principles was 
signed, 110 Israelis have been killed in acts of terrorism. Hundreds 
more have been wounded. And despite requirements for the Palestinian 
authority to bring those responsible for acts of violence to justice, 
not one terrorist has been convicted and sentenced.
  Just as troubling as Chairman Arafat's inaction in the face of 
terrorism is the continued refusal of Syrian President Assad to crack 
down on terrorist groups operating from Syria and Syrian-controlled 
Lebanon. It is a sad fact that the statement claiming credit for last 
Sunday's barbaric attack was issued by Islamic Jihad from Syria. Syria 
and Syrian-controlled Lebanon remain the address of choice for many of 
the most bloodthirsty terrorists in the world.
  The peace process in the Middle East is at a crossroads. Israel is 
divided over the best course to protect its future. We in the United 
States cannot and should not get involved in the internal Israeli 
debate. We can and should, however, express our condolences to those 
[[Page S1458]] murdered, and our hope that those injured recover 
completely. We should also express our outrage that these acts 
continue--without adequate responses from Syria or the PLO. I am 
pleased to be joined by my colleagues in passing this expression of the 
Senate's views. I ask unanimous consent that a list of Israelis killed 
in terrorist attacks since September 13, 1993, be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
         Israeli deaths from terrorism since September 13, 1993

Deaths since September 13, 1993 (as of Jan. 24, 1995)...............110
  Civilian deaths....................................................70
  IDF deaths.........................................................40
1995 Deaths (as of Jan. 23)..........................................20
  Civilian............................................................2
  IDF deaths.........................................................18
1994 Deaths..........................................................70
  Civilian...........................................................35
  IDF deaths.........................................................35
Deaths between Sept. 13 and Dec. 31, 1993............................20
  Civilian...........................................................15
  IDF deaths..........................................................5
Deaths Since May 4, 1994.............................................64
  Civilian...........................................................32
  IDF deaths.........................................................32
Deaths between Jan. 1 and May 4, 1994................................26
  Civilian...........................................................23
  IDF deaths..........................................................3
Deaths between Sept. 13 and Dec. 31, 1993............................20
  Civilian...........................................................15
  IDF deaths..........................................................5
Deaths between Sept. 13, 1993 and May 4, 1994........................46
  Civilian...........................................................38
  IDF deaths..........................................................8

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I watched with utter revulsion and horror 
the news accounts of the terrorist attack in Netanya, Israel. The 
casualties now stand at 19 dead and more than 60 injured, all 
apparently at the hands of the radical Islamic Jihad organization.
  Once again, Israelis are reminded of the human costs of pursuing 
peace with the Palestinians. Once again, the Islamic radicals have 
demonstrated their capacity to seize the initiative with their craven 
acts of terror. Once again, Israel is forced to seal off the 
territories and reexamine its willingness to participate in the 
Palestinian experiment with self-rule. And once again, in a perverse 
twist of logic, the enemies of peace become the beneficiaries of a 
horrible tragedy.
  The Israeli Government, to its enormous credit, has concluded that it 
will not allow the terrorists to dictate Israel's decision to implement 
its peace agreement with the Palestinians. Prime Minister Rabin has, in 
my opinion, made the right and courageous decision to stand by his 
pledge.
  What concerns me most, Mr. President, and what I wish to highlight 
today, is the price to be paid for that decision. All of us who follow 
events in Israel know that Prime Minister Rabin has a limited mandate 
to reach peace with the Palestinians and Israel's other neighbors. With 
each act of terror, with each addition to the list of casualties, the 
Prime Minister's political standing, and his ability to take risks for 
peace, are eroded.
  Even more important, there is a real danger that the Israeli public 
will change its fundamental view of the peace process. In Israeli 
minds, last year's moving images of White House signing ceremonies and 
hopeful talk of peace and understanding have been replaced by the 
bloody carnage of the bombing site and the mournful cries of the 
victims' families.
  Although opposition to the peace process--even violent opposition--is 
to be expected, my fear is that is that we are fast approaching a point 
of no return, a point where Israeli government calls to continue the 
peace talks will fall on deaf ears. In order to maintain their support 
for the peace process, Israelis have to know that they will be secure, 
and that the Palestinians are making a good faith effort to ensure that 
is the case. Otherwise the Israeli public will see no reason to make 
other difficult concessions for peace.
  If the Palestinians do not take dramatic steps to reign in Hamas and 
the Islamic Jihad, then the simple fact is that more terrorist acts 
will occur. At some point in the not too distant future, Israelis--and 
even the Israeli government--could decide that adherence to the process 
is no longer worth the effort. It is up to all interested parties--the 
Israelis, the United States, the Syrians who provide support and safe 
haven to the terrorists, and, more to the point, to the Palestinians 
themselves, to see that does not happen.
  Mr. President, I am pleased to cosponsor a resolution condemning the 
acts of terrorism, which will be offered shortly by Senators Dole, 
Daschle, and others.


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